Nigeria's Customs Model Adopted for $3.1bn Africa Project

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) announced that Nigeria's customs modernization model will be adopted across Africa as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has selected it as the template for a $3.1 billion project aimed at modernizing customs systems across the continent. The ICRC, through its acting Head of Media and Publicity, Ifeanyi Nwoko, stated that this development validates Nigeria's public-private partnership (PPP) framework, with the indigenous solution developed for the Nigeria Customs Service expected to facilitate trade among approximately 50 African countries.

The AfCFTA Secretariat has signed a 20-year concession agreement with Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited to implement the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project. Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, the ICRC Director-General, emphasized that Nigeria's model demonstrates the potential for indigenous solutions to support large-scale infrastructure projects without overburdening the government.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene noted that Nigeria's experience showcases how technology can transform customs administration.